My mind reeled as I tried to process the officer’s words. How could it not be her? Just hours earlier, she had climbed into bed, complaining of a throbbing headache after a long day at work. She had kissed me goodnight, promising to join me for our anniversary dinner once she felt better.
A chill crept up my spine as the officer approached the bed, his hand trembling slightly as he pulled back the covers. My eyes widened in disbelief. The figure beneath the sheets was not my wife. It was a mannequin, dressed and made up to resemble her from a distance. The blonde wig lay perfectly in place, the facial features eerily accurate—but the cold, lifeless nature of it was undeniable.
“Sir, did you know about this?” the officer asked, his tone a mixture of suspicion and concern.
“I… I had no idea,” I stammered, my mind racing. “Who could do this? And why?”
The officer’s gaze searched mine for any hint of deception. “We need to get to the bottom of this. You said your wife was here earlier. Anything unusual? Strange phone calls or visitors?”
I tried to recall, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She had been stressed from work, yes, but nothing alarming. “I can’t think of anything,” I admitted quietly. “She’s been working late, but that’s normal.”
The officer nodded, taking notes. “We’ll need to investigate further. Anyone who might want to harm her or cause distress?”
I shook my head. Our life had always been peaceful. No enemies, no threats.
“For now, you need to come with me to the station,” he said. “We’ll ask more questions and notify next of kin.”
The word ‘kin’ triggered a sudden thought. Her sister. My wife had been planning a surprise—something elaborate—and had mentioned her sister’s involvement.
“Her sister,” I blurted out. “Maybe she knows what’s going on.”
The officer’s expression shifted, a glimmer of hope cutting through the tension. “We’ll find her and get answers. But first, we need to ensure your safety and understand the full situation.”
As we left the house, rain poured relentlessly, mirroring the turmoil inside me. The mannequin, the possibility of foul play, the unanswered questions—it all swirled in my mind. My wife was out there somewhere, and I was determined to bring her home safely, no matter what it took.
